Steve Way - inspiration

[simonwilliamstutor]

Like a lot of people I had never heard of the guy until I saw him being interviewed during the Commonwealth Games last year. Just watched this youtube clip of him being interviewed in 2011 - it's absolutely amazing that he went from being really overweight to finishing in the top 10 in the CG marathon in 2014. Well worth watching, especially if you don't know who I am talking about!

youtube.com/watch?v=VCkw-gS...(Not working as expected?)

[Ugifer]

It's amazing, but the guy must be an insane super-human mutant!

No normal person can go from no running to a 3h marathon in three weeks training. It's just not natural!

I agree that he's an inspiration, but nobody should imagine that they will be able to duplicate his transformation. There are many people who train with dedication for years and years and will never reach a 3h marathon.

I only wish he had discovered running when he was 17 and hadn't yet spent 15 years smoking 20 a day, or whatever it was. He would have been an unimaginable athlete had he taken to it earlier!

Ugi

[simonwilliamstutor Graduate in reply to Ugifer]

True... he must have some incredible genetics and I agree completely that his transformation is not repeatable by the overwhelming majority of us.

However, the fact that he got off his backside and started running meant that he discovered his talent, nurtured it and became an incredible athlete. The point is, we never know what we are capable of until we try. I remember back in W3 or W4 of C25K feeling overwhelmed by running for 3 or 5 minutes. Now I have graduated I can run for 30mins continuously and I can definitely see myself completing a 10K next September (maybe sooner in fact). That would have been unimaginable just three months ago when I was over 14.5 st and probably considered obese.

[Ugifer in reply to simonwilliamstutor]

Very much true - humans are very well adapted for distance running, to the extent that it was probably a key survival skill many generations ago. That means that virtually anyone can find their "inner runner" and in doing so often exceed their own expectations.

Way is able to make that transformation to an extent that few could possibly match but that does not in any way detract from the value of doing so. Nearly anyone can be a runner and benefit hugely from it.

Well done on your own transformation - I'm sure you will reach your 10k well before September if you increment your running very gently. What I don't advise is attempting a 3h marathon the week after next!

Ugi

[misswobble Graduate]

As a former fatty, lard ass, heavy smoker, drinker and all-round blob, I agree that we can transform ourselves. We just have to get off our butts and make a start. One foot in front of the other and go, and see where it takes us. Never under-estimate the power of the human spirit

It's amazing what we can do but we have to push ourselves. I think some people have lost the ability to do that, and that's the problem! If you want something badly enough you have to work at it. No instant results either. These things take time

Hats off to him for shifting his ass and changing his life. Wooohoo!

[Tomas Graduate]

I'm sure he's a great guy, and it certainly sounds like he's done amazingly well. So hats off for all his achievements and huge congratulations to him.

Maybe I'm just a cynical old bastard, but to be honest, I don't buy the couch-to-3hr-marathon-in-three-weeks story.